|
If you have been to Le Mans, you'll know that the camping and sanitary arrangements at the circuit leave a lot to be desired, particularly for the ladies!
Le Mans 24 Hour Race - April
You may not consider the constant noise through the nights part of the atmosphere if you have ridden a long way and are in need of sleep. Toilets are few and far between and there is nowhere to freshen
up. If the weather is bad (and Le Mans is pretty early in the year - the race has even been disrupted by snow) there are few places to shelter out of the rain. In particular, the constant worry of theft
of belonging and bikes is always on your mind.
Club VALAN Motorsport Tours offer all these facilities on a campsite nearby, and having seen their adverts for several years, I decided it was finally time to give them a go when I made another trip to Le
Mans some years ago. I liked the idea that I could just turn up, pop up the tent and enjoy the additional facilities and services that they provide. Food was plain and simple, but good quality, and the
beers were sensibly priced.
Facilities are excellent. There's a marquee, shower and toilet facilities provided and a large number of tables and chairs where you can relax and chat to the other guests. The main marquee had a TV, and
was showing the live satellite coverage of the event - videos were also available for the times when there was no coverage.
In 2008, Motorsport Tours moved to a site on the aerodrome just 1 mile from the circuit - you can take their own minibus link or walk it in 20-odd minutes. The last time I was there, the crowd was
estimated at 200,000 and it was clear congestion and parking was a major problem, so the short transfer from the campsite to the circuit is a bonus.
Next morning, after a traditional English breakfast and several cups of tea, it was back to the track for the last few hours of the race, then a leisurely ride back to the coast to catch the Seacat back
to England.
Last time I went, the price included full use of the campsite facilities, camping fee paid, use of the marquees, etc., Full English breakfast and two course evening meals each day after your arrival, free
tea & coffee, the race entry ticket and transport to and from track - add all that up and you'll see what excellent value Motorsport Tours offer.
All you have to provide is your own tent and ferry crossing, and find our own way there. I took the Seacat to Boulogne, a quick crossing and relatively cheap, which left me with 250-odd miles of riding to
Le Mans. Given a choice of going cross country or blatting down the motorway, I took the cross country route and enjoyed some great riding in some early spring sunshine.
If you have never been to a 24 hour race or you need more than the basic facilities available at the circuit, this is not a bad way to go, and I would recommend Motorsport Tours by Club Valan to anyone.
|
2009 Contact Details for Motorsport Tours
contact number is
01737 241124
website is now www.motorsport-tours.com
email for office - sian.clark@motorsport-tours.com
email in France - clubvalan@wanadoo.fr
Val and Alan phone
0033 233 695980
Mobiles
0033 606 44 93 77
+ 07831 241371
Other Events:
LE MANS
French Moto GP
16/17th May
LE MANS
24 hour cars
13/14th June
ASSEN
Dutch TT (Moto GP)
26/27th June
|
